Good News of Great Joy

Luke 2:1-20

Key Verse 2:10

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

Merry Christmas! A few months ago Dr. David Min teaching pharmacology at the Western University of Health Science encouraged me to take one baby Aspirin pill once a day. I asked him “Why? I am an adult. Why should I take baby Aspirin?” He said, “It was clinically proven that it will reduce the risk of heart attack by 30%.” “O, I see” I said. Since that time, my wife faithfully gives me one baby Aspirin a day. Lately Mr. Bono, the lead singer of a rock band named U-2 launched a campaign for people with AIDS. Apparently the pill Mr. Bono is promoting is good news for those who suffer from AIDS. But it is not for free. Plus even if you are healed of AIDS, still you can die. But it is not so with the good news of great joy. First of all, it is God’s special gift for us, so it is for free. Second, it gives eternal life for those who believe. Having said this, let us now listen to the Apostle Luke for he explains why the birth of Jesus is the good news of great joy. 

Part 1 - to Bethlehem (1-7)

In verses 1-7 we see that the Lord God orchestrated the things of the world in such a way that the Savior would be born in Bethlehem, so that the promise he had made about 5 centuries before the Christ would be fulfilled. A lot of people, including the Israelites, the direct recipients of the promise, long forgot the promise, but the Lord God did not. Using the Roman Emperor Caesar’s census decree, the Lord God moved people around, so that Joseph and Mary had to make a trip to Bethlehem to register. While they were there, the Savior was born. And Mary laid the baby in a manger. 

Why did God choose Bethlehem as the Savior’s birth place? The name of the town Bethlehem answers the question. Bethlehem means, “The House of Bread” in Hebrew. In the Bible “bread” refers to both physical and spiritual bread. Proving this truth, during his public ministry Jesus fed more than 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two small fish. Jesus also said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”  

Many suffer from spiritual hunger. Some people have a deep hunger for love and recognition. Speaking of the same phenomenon Mother Teresa said, “There is more hunger for love and appreciation than [physical] bread.” Most importantly unbeknownst to many, people have a deep hunger and thirst for God’s word. Thank God that Jesus whose name is the Word came to satisfy our hunger and thirst, particularly the longing for the fellowship with the Maker of our soul.     

Part 2 - a Savior has been born to you (8-11) 

Look at verses 8-11a, “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you…” 

Here the angel of the Lord speaks of the first office title of Jesus, that is, a Savior. A Savior is one who saves. What does he save us from? The name Jesus answers the question for Matthew 1:21 reads, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." So Jesus saves men from their sins. 

What is sin? In view of Genesis 3, sin is disobedience, for Adam disobeyed God’s command in the Garden of Eden. Since then all men disobeyed God and became hostages to sin. But thank God. God sent Jesus to set men free from the power of sin and death, and change them to become children of obedience. 

John Newton (1725-1807) the author of the hymn, “Amazing Grace” is a good example. While he lived in disobedience, he made money trading slaves. Then he ran into a brick wall; when he was on the verge of dying in a shipwreck, remembering his mother’s prayer, he offered an emergency prayer, “Lord, have mercy on us.” God answered his prayer. Since then he turned his life over to Jesus Christ the good news of great joy. He experienced a great deliverance of his soul. With a thankful heart, he wrote the song Amazing Grace. Shall we all sing the first verse of “Amazing Grace”? Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound) That sav'd a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see. 

How does Jesus save men from the power of sin? How does he transform a man of disobedience to a man of obedience? We find an answer to the question in the next office title: Jesus, the “Christ.” Let us read 2:11 again. “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” The word Christ is a Greek word for the Hebrew word, “Messiah.” In the Bible the Messiah has the mission to restore the broken relationship between God and sinners. Sin broke the relationship. But through his death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, Jesus restored the broken relationship between God and men.  

Speaking of the Messiah’s mission the Prophet Isaiah says, “[H]e bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:12

The Lord God is pleased with Jesus’ sacrifice. For everyone who believes in Jesus and turns to God for his love, the Lord God gives him the Holy Spirit, so that the relationship may be fully restored. Speaking of this work Peter says, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…” Here “refreshing” means “invigorating, rejuvenating, renewing, or restoring.” The “times of refreshing” refer to all the days of our life here on earth and beyond. So in Jesus we have the living hope to be invigorated, rejuvenated, renewed, and fully restored through the new relationship with God. 

The third office title of the baby born in a manger is Lord. One of the meanings of the Lord is the one who rules. The birth of Jesus is good news because he rules with God’s perfect love and power, wisdom and understanding. Worldly rulers are imperfect so they make many mistakes. Furthermore their abilities are limited. But Jesus is different. He is all powerful. He is all wise. He knows his sheep by name. As we listen to his voice and follow him, he leads us to His kingdom. . 

Part 3 - glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests (12-20)

Look at verses 12-14. “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." In Greek the word glory means to “reveal”. Jesus came to reveal God fully, so as we look up to him we can learn of God’s true greatness, and grow to His greatness, and thereby render glory to God. 

The next good news that Jesus brings is a perfectly peaceful relationship with our neighbor. According to the Press Telegram, the top Christmas song of the season is “Happy Christmas War is Over” by John Lennon. But we know that the war is still going on because men are yet to have a peaceful relationship with their neighbor. Yet, the peace Jesus came to give us is the inner peace rolling like a river in our hearts. The angel said, “Peace to men on whom his favor rests”. On whom does the Lord’s favor rest? According to the Bible God’s favor rests on all who believe in Jesus.  

Lastly in verses 15-20 we see shepherds hurrying to Bethlehem. There they found the baby in a manger. They worshiped him and experienced the good news of great joy. Then they spread the good news. Today, following the example of the shepherds the music servants prepared joyful songs of praise and worship. Let us bow our heads and pray. 

Our Heavenly Father! Thank you for sending the Savior of the world. Please accept our thanks and songs of praise for the special gift, your Son. In Jesus’ name

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